Rainbow Coalition Not To Destabilise APC – Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that the Rainbow Coalition was not created by him to destabilise the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He maintained that the coalition was only seeking to mobilise APC members and Nigerians in other political parties who support the President.

Wike added that his major political priority ahead of the 2027 general elections is the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He spoke yesterday amid the controversy surrounding the emergence the coalition.

After inspecting ongoing road projects in Abuja, Wike said he had from the outset pledged to deploy his might and strength in support of Tinubu’s bid for a second term.

“My concern is that the President will be re-elected for a second term. That is my concern. And I made that known from the onset that I was going to support Mr President with all my might and strength,” he said.

His clarification came amid mounting tensions between advocates of the coalition and APC governors over the political implications of the emerging alliance ahead of 2027.

Wike said those behind the coalition had not asked APC members to abandon the party or work against its interests, insisting that their objective was to rally support for Tinubu.

“We said all our party members, all those like-minds who are not APC members, to please ensure that they support Mr President,” he said.

The former Rivers State governor challenged the argument that the coalition could destabilise the APC, recalling that similar political mobilisation occurred ahead of the 2023 presidential election without preventing Tinubu from winning or the APC from retaining control of the National Assembly.

Wike, who contested the 2022 PDP presidential primary and finished second, also dismissed speculation that his involvement in the coalition was part of a plan to position himself for the 2031 presidential election.

He said it was premature for politicians to make definitive calculations about an election several years away, stressing that the future could only be determined by circumstances at the time.

“You know, people take the position of God. First of all, you have to pray that you are alive. You must ask God, ‘Keep me alive till tomorrow,’ or ‘Keep me alive till the next day.’ When God keeps you alive, then you now know what to do,” he said.

Wike further questioned the basis of claims that he was positioning himself for 2031, asking, “So, am I positioning myself, in which of the parties am I positioning myself to?”

He noted that President Tinubu would also have an interest in whoever succeeds him in 2031, adding that it would be premature to assume that his current political activities were directed at that contest.

Wike, however, hinted at a fresh disclosure over the controversy surrounding the Rainbow Coalition, saying Nigerians would soon hear what he described as the undertones behind the opposition to the platform.

“You will hear it today. What is the real cry about the Rainbow Coalition, the undertone. Nigerians don’t understand that there are undertones about it, and we’ll let the cat out of the bag so that Nigerians will be well-informed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wike expressed satisfaction with the progress of work on major road projects inspected across Abuja, saying contractors had renewed their commitment to completing the projects ahead of the 2027 elections.

The minister inspected ongoing works along the ISEX 2 corridor, Southern Parkway and the Nile University–Ring Road 3 corridor.

He said the exercise was part of his effort to ensure that contractors delivered projects promised to FCT residents within the agreed timelines.

“I came back yesterday and, as usual, I have to go round to check the ongoing projects which were promised to residents of Abuja to be completed before the elections,” he said.

Wike said he was particularly impressed by the quality of work on the High Court project, adding that CGC had reaffirmed its commitment to completing and handing over the project by December.

On the second bridge around the Gaduwa axis, he said heavy rainfall had delayed the commencement of major earthworks, but disclosed that the contractor had promised to commence immediately after the rains.

At the Nile University–Ring Road 3 corridor, Wike said he was relieved by the progress of work after previously expressing concern over the pace of construction.

He disclosed that CCECC had committed to completing and handing over the project in the first week of January.

“I must say the management has committed itself to handing over this project by the first week of January. So, I’m very, very happy that we are on schedule, on course, and the promise made by this administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be completed before we go for the general elections,” he said.

The minister said the renewed commitments from the contractors had allayed his earlier concerns, adding that he expected them to meet the agreed deadlines.